Confirmed: West Ham clinch club-record £36million deal

Dimitri Payet has signed a West Ham contract that will make him the best-paid player in the club’s history.

The Hammers confirmed on Thursday night that, as revealed by Football Insideron Thursday morning, Payet has committed to a five-and-a-half-year contract.

The playmaker has been rewarded with a stunning £36million deal just eight months after he moved to Upton Park.

A source has told Football Insider that the deal makes Payet the best-paid player in West Ham’s history, usurping the contract Andy Carroll signed when he joined from Liverpool.

The deal that runs until 2021 comprises a £68,000-a-week basic wage, £25,000-a-week appearance fee, £1million signing-on fee, plus supplementary bonuses, taking the total to around £125,000. If all the triggers in the deal are hit, it is worth an astonishing £35.8million.

A club statement on the official website read: “West Ham United are delighted to announce that Dimitri Payet has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

“The outstanding France playmaker, who has made a huge impact in claret and blue since arriving from Marseille last summer, has penned a deal until the summer of 2021…. and is delighted to have pledged his long-term future to the club.”

Speaking at his media briefing on Thursday morning, Bilic said: “We are very, very close to signing because both parties have the same intention and that’s to stay at West Ham,’ said Bilic.

“We will do everything to make that happen. In one hand every player has a price but he is happy and we are more than happy and I hope, and think he will be with us for a long time.”

Bilic has made it clear how much he values Payet, who joined in a £10.5million deal from Marseille last summer.

“The most important move is to keep your best players and Dimitri Payet is our best player, I have no problem whatsoever saying that,” the manager said on Monday. “And of course I would love to have him happy, long term, at the club.”